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Snowflake Challenge: asking for recs
Today's challenge is to ask for recs. I'm going to ask for two quite different kinds.
One: for my son, who is in his early twenties. He has taken to devouring fantasy books at a great rate, and I'd love to be able to find some new ones for him. My problem is that I haven't been reading much in the way of new fiction, not in book form, for quite a while.
He liked 'The Deed of Paksenarrion', enjoyed a bunch of Trudi Canavan stories (although he has subsequently rated others higher) and has left me a stack of Maria V Snyder books (Poison/Magic/Fire Study and Storm Glass) to try because he thinks they are wonderful. He seems to be rather good at picking up plot holes (and disapproves of them), and likes good characterisation, so no sacrificing people for smart ideas.
Any recommendations?
Two: is for me. I have discovered an odd penchant for bandom D/s stories, and would be charmed to be shown a few more. I have 'i want to choke u' and 'tell me to stop' bookmarked already, and a few more. PatD and My Chem and Fall Out Boy are the only ones I'm familiar with, so preferably any of those.
Suggestions?
One: for my son, who is in his early twenties. He has taken to devouring fantasy books at a great rate, and I'd love to be able to find some new ones for him. My problem is that I haven't been reading much in the way of new fiction, not in book form, for quite a while.
He liked 'The Deed of Paksenarrion', enjoyed a bunch of Trudi Canavan stories (although he has subsequently rated others higher) and has left me a stack of Maria V Snyder books (Poison/Magic/Fire Study and Storm Glass) to try because he thinks they are wonderful. He seems to be rather good at picking up plot holes (and disapproves of them), and likes good characterisation, so no sacrificing people for smart ideas.
Any recommendations?
Two: is for me. I have discovered an odd penchant for bandom D/s stories, and would be charmed to be shown a few more. I have 'i want to choke u' and 'tell me to stop' bookmarked already, and a few more. PatD and My Chem and Fall Out Boy are the only ones I'm familiar with, so preferably any of those.
Suggestions?
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Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow And Thorn (trilogy)
Guy Gavriel Kay - Tigana
Steven Erikson - The Malazan Book Of The Fallen (if he enjoys really thick books with REALLY A LOT of characters, plots, gods and (above all) war in a lot of different forms)
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First some from my old recs:
I haven't read this one myself yet but it's supposed to be awesome (
These two aren't straight up d/s but have some prominent d/s elements:
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Also, have you read LittleMousling">'s stories? She writes those themes a lot.
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I wonder if he might like the Ankaret Wells' Requite books? (disclaimer I both know the author and adore the books)
I'm reading Robert Holdstock's Merlin Codex series at the moment, and I'm not 100% sure I could recommend them, but his older Mythago Wood series I can and do recommend wholeheartedly. Also older, but currently on my to-read pile, Robin Hobb, and Peter Morwood's Prince Ivan series (now available as ebooks from Diane Duanne's website) - I loved them when I was his age, and am looking forward to the re-read.
Angry Robot has some interesting new authors - I've tended to read more of their urban fantasy and SF stuff, but I like the imprint well enough to suggest poking at their fantasy options.
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came through the comments on the original post
Re: came through the comments on the original post
Fantasy recs
"Mostly good fantasy comes in trilogies or series: this is true of all the following:
Robin Hobb - any, but start with the Farseer trilogy (Book One is called Assassin's Apprentice)
George RR Martin (obviously) - Book One is A Game of Thrones
Scott Lynch - The Lies of Locke Lamora
Joe Abercrombie - another trilogy, Book One is The Blade Itself
Brandon Sanderson - the Mistborn trilogy, Book One is The Final Empire
Brent Weeks - The Night Angel trilogy (Book One is called The Way of Shadows)
Patrick Rothfuss - The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book One is The Name of the Wind)
I would highly recommend all of these as great modern fantasy... warning, some of the series are not yet complete, if that makes a difference!"
I personally would add NK Jemisin's Kingdoms trilogy, starting with the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, as I loved it. What you might call urban fantasy from people like Neil Gaiman includes the very very wonderful Good Omens (if he liked the film Dogma, he'll like this book) written with Terry Pratchett, and I am halfway through China Mieville's Kraken and it's amazing so far!
Re: Fantasy recs
Re: Fantasy recs
Here via fandom-snowflake
Okay, here's a huge list of fantasy novels that range from the fine to the fantastic. I'm not going to try to guess what your son has or has not read.
Alphabet Of Thorn by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, the orphan Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. Now sixteen, she knows little of the outside world -- except for the documents that traders and travelers bring her to interpret. Then, during the coronation of the new Queen of Raine, a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation, written in an alphabet of thorns...
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (Fantasy)
The Bridge Of Birds by Barry Hughart (Fantasy)
The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
A Fine And Private Place by Peter S Beagle (Fantasy)
A man, a raven, and a romance between two ghosts.
The Forgotten Beasts Of Eld by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
The Homeward Bounders by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle (Fantasy)
Lilith by George MacDonald (Fantasy)
The Man Who Was Thursday by G K Chesterton (Fantasy)
The Many Coloured Realm by Anne Hamilton (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2010-08-29]
1 nice girl, 2 bad boys, 3 tortuous tasks, 4 strange ambassadors... after that, it's hard to keep count. Dozens of elves, hundreds of goblins, legions of demons - all converging on the colourless world ruled by the goblin king. Can Robby and Chris discover the goblin king's name and rescue Stephen before time runs out?
The Napoleon Of Notting Hill by G K Chesterton (Fantasy)
The familiar become strange.
Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
The Ordinary Princess by M M Kaye (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2008-08-31]
All across the kingdom, excitement is running high: a seventh princess, always the luckiest and most beautiful of all, has just been born to good King Huldebrand and Her Majesty Queen Rodehesia. When the christening day arrives, Her Serene and Royal Highness Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne is showered with the most extravagant, marvelous presents imaginable - until her last, most powerful fairy godmother proclaims, "You shall be Ordinary!"
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope (Fantasy)
Phantastes by George MacDonald (Fantasy)
The Power Of Three by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Fantasy)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman (Fantasy)
Sunshine by Robin McKinley (Fantasy) [2009-07-20 2007-08-27 2007-04-18]
There are places in the world where darkness rules, where it's unwise to walk. But there hadn't been any trouble out at the lake for years, and Sunshine just needed a spot where she could be alone with her thoughts. Vampires never entered her mind. Until they found her...
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy)
Tough Guide To Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy)
The War For The Oaks by Emma Bull (Fantasy)
Urban fantasy
Warslayer by Rosemary Edghill (Fantasy) [2004-05-02]
Gloria "Glory" McArdle plays Vixen the Slayer in a straight-to-syndication TV show where even the fans say the villain is the better actress. The wizards of Erchanen have been searching all the worlds to find a hero, and Vixen the Slayer is the last name on their list.
Wolf Hunt by Gillian Bradshaw (Historical, Fantasy)
Historical fantastic; Mediaeval politics, faithfulness, and were-wolves.
Alexia Tarabotti (1) Soulless by Gail Carriger (Fantasy)
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Bayern (1) Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2008-07-14]
A re-telling of the fairy tale of the same name.
Covenants by Lorna Freeman (Fantasy)
Chalion (1) Curse Of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (Fantasy) [2003-03-15]
All Cazaril wants is a humble post, something to live on. Instead he gets thrust into political intrigue and the darkness that is hanging over the country of Chalion.
Chalion (2) Paladin Of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (Fantasy)
Chalion (3) Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold (Fantasy)
Chrestomanci Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Chrestomanci Conrad's Fate by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Chrestomanci Lives Of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Chrestomanci Magicians Of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Chrestomanci Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones (TeenKid, Fantasy)
DShai (1) DShai by Joel Rosenberg (Fantasy) [2007-10-28]
In feudal D'Shai, your birth determines your status -- and your own special magic. There is the Way of the Warrior, the Way of the Runner, and fifty other kazuh. Thus it has always been...
Dalemark (1) Spellcoats by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy)
Dalemark (2) Cart And Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy)
Dalemark (3) Drowned Ammet by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy)
Dalemark (4) Crown Of Dalemark by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy)
Discworld Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2007-07-29]
There's trouble on the Aching farm -- nightmares spreading down from the hills. And Tiffany Aching's little brother has been stolen away.
Dresden Files (1) Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Fantasy) [2007-12-04]
Harry Dresden, wizard for hire. Fantasy Noir.
Harry Potter (1) Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (2) Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (3) Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (4) Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (5) Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (6) Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Harry Potter (7) Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2007-07-23]
The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien (Fantasy)
Hawk Of May (1) Hawk Of May by Gillian Bradshaw (Historical, Fantasy)
An historical Arthur; the story of Gwalchmai, the son of... the sorceress Morgawse (Morgan le Fay).
Hawk Of May (2) Kingdom Of Summer by Gillian Bradshaw (Fantasy)
Hawk Of May (3) In Winter's Shadow by Gillian Bradshaw (Fantasy)
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (Fantasy) [2009-04-20]
Incomplete Enchanter Enchanter Reborn by L Sprague de Camp, Christopher Stasheff (Fantasy)
Magic spells masquerading as a college professor's symbolic logic will get you to some ridiculously dangerous land of myth and magic; but once you're there it will take fast talking and faster swordplay to survive... a job for the Incomplete Enchanter!
Larklight (1) Larklight by Philip Reeve (Fantasy) [2007-10-31]
It was just another normal morning in space when disaster struck. Myrtle and Art face the most awful peril, and they hadn't even had breakfast yet...
Mairelon (1) Mairelon The Magician by Patricia C Wrede (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2008-04-29]
When Kim is hired to break in to a travelling magician's wagon to look for a silver bowl, she doesn't know what she's getting into.
Mairelon (2) Magicians Ward by Patricia C Wrede (TeenKid, Fantasy) [2008-07-03]
When Mairelon made Kim his ward, he promised to teach her to be a lady and a magician. But magic proves to be harder than it looks, and being a lady is even harder.
Moon In The Cloud (1) Moon In The Cloud by Rosemary Harris (Historical, Fantasy)
Moon In The Cloud (2) Shadow On The Sun by Rosemary Harris (Historical, Fantasy)
Moon In The Cloud (3) Bright And Morning Star by Rosemary Harris (Historical, Fantasy)
Narnia (1) Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (2) Prince Caspian by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (3) Voyage Of The Dawn Treader by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (4) Silver Chair by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (5) Horse And His Boy by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (6) Magicians Nephew by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Narnia (7) Last Battle by C S Lewis (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Newford The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint (Fantasy) [2007-11-19]
Seventeen-year-old Imogene jumps at the chance to lose her bad girl reputation when her family moves to a new town. She purposely lays low at Redding High, only making friends with Maxine, a shy, studious girl who is Imogene's opposite in every way. Despite a few run-ins with the ruling football jock and his cheerleader girlfriend, Imogene keeps her temper in check and even lends some of her bravado to Maxine, who begins to come out of her straight-A shell. Things are going well for the new friends--until the day Imogene meets Adrian, the benign ghost of a boy who died in the school's parking lot.
Orphans Of Chaos (1) Orphans Of Chaos by John C Wright (Fantasy)
Princess And Curdie (1) Princess And The Goblin by George MacDonald (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Princess And Curdie (2) Princess And Curdie by George MacDonald (TeenKid, Fantasy)
Riddle Master (1) Riddle Master Of Hed by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
Riddle Master (2) Heir Of Sea And Fire by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
Riddle Master (3) Harpist In The Wind by Patricia McKillip (Fantasy)
Sandman series by Neil Gaiman (Fantasy)
Sharing Knife (1) Sharing Knife Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold (Fantasy) [2009-06-13]
Troubled young Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond her family's farm. Dag Redwing is a Lakewalker patroller weighted down by past sorrows and onerous present responsibilities. Little do they know that, very soon, their fates will be entangled.
Sorcery And Cecelia (1) Sorcery And Cecelia Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C Wrede, Caroline Stevermer (Fantasy) [2008-03-13]
Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country
Temeraire (1) Temeraire by Naomi Novik (Fantasy)
Also known as "His Majesty's Dragon".
Thursday Next (1) Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Fantasy)
Tinker by Wen Spencer (Fantasy)
Magic and science
Watership Down by Richard Adams (Fantasy)
First of what later became its own genre of fantasy; (realistic) animals as protagonists, with their own culture and myths.
Worldwalker (1) Truthseeker by C E Murphy (Fantasy)
Gifted with uncanny intuition, Lara Jansen nonetheless thinks there is nothing particularly special about her. All that changes when a handsome but mysterious man enters her life and begs for her help. He says she is a Truthseeker, and the only one who can prove that he didn't murder his brother. The catch? Dafydd is a prince of Faerie, and he wants her to come with him to the barrow-lands.
Worldwalker (2) Wayfinder by C E Murphy (Fantasy)
Lara Jansen is a truthseeker, gifted - or cursed - with the magical ability to tell honesty from lies. Once she was a tailor in Boston, but now she has crossed from Earth to the Barrow-lands, a Faerie world embroiled in a bloody civil war between Seelie and Unseelie. She seeks the Faerie prince Daffyd ap Caerwyn, whom she last saw near death. But he is missing. Armed with a magical staff both powerful and perilous, she seeks both him and the truth; but will that truth save the Barrow-lands or destroy them?
Re: Here via fandom-snowflake
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I have some bandom d/s bookmarked here, but I would more particularly recommend:
MCR:
Beholder by Bexless
The Things You Say by Ladyfoxxx
Patd:
Stop the Clock by airgiodslv
The Evil and Domestic Vampire Boyfriends by disarm_d (warning: disturbing themes, heed the warnings)
All we fear is all that can save us by Hidingoutside
Here at the right time by Sunsetmog
And I don't know if you've read the two ficlets from the same verse as Tell me to Stop:
http://disarm-d.livejournal.com/90220.html
http://airgiodslv.livejournal.com/376502.html
Enjoy! :)
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Here's a link to the bandom d/s stories (http://delicious.com/heather76/d%2Fs) I've read, though I think most of my faves have already been mentioned.
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One of my favourite D/S stories is this Frank/Gerard not!fic where Gerard is a teacher and Frank's a student. To Cast Turpentine Kisses by
Also, Pull Your Tangles Out (Brendon/Spencer) by
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slantverse
Lessons and Plans is Gabe/Pete/Mikey, and Elle wrote two sequels for it.
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Also, I am currently reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, which is the first of a series, but the subsequent books have not been published yet. So far I like it a lot, but I have not yet finished the book. It was recommended to me by the same bookseller who turned me on to the Martin books though, so I expect it to be good.
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Something a little different, but brilliant, is Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. One of my very favorite books, it takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, if your son likes that kind of thing. It's a fascinating story and what the author does with the language is amazing.
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Possibly the Coldfire trilogy? Or the Kushiel books? (Sorry, going blank on authors and on the phone so I'm doing well just to comment.)
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And then I would add Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastard series. Only the first two books (of a proposed seven, I think) are out now: The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies, and they are so, so good. They're quite long, and yeah. Really good.
Um, Sherwood Smith has an actually completed series, the Inda books, that I liked a lot. (Inda, The Fox, King's Shield, and Treason's Shore. And Tad Williams has a few series, and is generally good.
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How about the Night Angel trilogy, by Brent Weeks? It's got magic & assassins.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Angel-Trilogy-Brent-Weeks/dp/0316085146
The Rogue Agent series by K E Mills (aka Karen Miller) is a WIP, if he doesn't mind. She's got 3 books out already:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Sorcerer-Rogue-Agent-ebook/dp/B00550N96M/ref=sr_tc_2_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326366117&sr=1-2-ent